This paper presents an improved formulation, to estimate the sliding friction torque of deep groove ball bearings (DGBBs). Running torque of rolling element bearings, is directly associated with heat generation in rotating machines. Among the components of running torque, sliding friction is a major friction source in ball bearings. For DGBBs, sliding friction is dominated by spinning and differential sliding between balls and races. This paper addresses the sliding friction torque components of DGBBs: Spinning friction, differential sliding friction due to the ball rotation, and differential sliding friction due to the ball orbital motion. An efficient and accurate computational method is proposed for the individual sliding friction sources, based on pure rolling lines in the elliptical contact area between the balls and races. The proposed method applies an updating algorithm, for estimating more accurate information about the pure rolling lines. The proposed method was validated in terms of comparison with other methods, and with the empirical formulae provided by a bearing manufacturer. Simulations were also conducted to investigate the impacts of important parameters on the sliding friction torque in DGBBs.